The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-04-09

"S Nno"h laintltoS VI DOSCOn. during
the last twenty years it has had a some.
what perplexing career. and with many
OF the older parishes of the city, has suf-
fered from the removal of its member
ship to distant parts of the city, but at
the present time, under the leadership
OF its youthful and popular pastor, Rev.
George l.. Perrin, it has largely regained
lost ground, and is comparatively strong
and prosperous. The outlook for the
old parish has not been so favorable for
many years.
Ihe semi-centennial discourse of Mr..
Perrin on Sunday morning, paid elo-
quent tribute to the three departed
pastors of the society-Revs. Drs. Skin
ner, Thayer and Ellis, and was in all
respects very appropriate and touch
ing discourse. Special exercises were
held in the afternoon by the Sunday
school, which was addressed by the pres
ent superintendent, Mr. John Ell North.
Reys. l.. L. Briggs, and Henry Ban-
chard, John D. W. Joy and the pastor.
On Monday evening the social reunion
of the school and parish took place,
and was an occasion of great interest
to all the old friends and visitors who
were present. Addresses were made by
five ex-superintendents of the school.
A special orchestra furnished the mu-
sic, and bountiful collation. was also
served. Three hundred persons were
present. "The Past" says the Leader,
was well represented, and the exchange
of congratulations, and the reciprocal
reviving Of memories, made spectacle
OF great delight, of course not untinged
with sadness. AT the place of presen-
tation sat the chief and the most hon
ored guest of the hour the venerable
widow of the first pastor, Mrs. Otis
A. Skinner. All were glad to pay honor
to personal worth, to the wife Of the
beloved pastor, and the daughter of Sc
bastian Streeter. The daughter-we
can with difficulty give any other name
than 'Addie'-was also present." Many
of the old friends in the West of DR..
Skinner and family will be glad to
know that his widow and daughter
were permitted to unite in this semi
centennial of the church which he
formed in the days of his early and Wig.
orous manhood. DR.. Skinner was the
first president of Lombard University
in Galesburg, ILL.,, and was pastor for
some years at Joliet, where his memory
is affectionately cherished. He died in
Naperville, ILL.,, September IS, 1861. In
his case, truly, the memory of the just
is blessed"
The Shawmut Avenue Sunday-school
has sent out many workers in the field
Of Universalism. There are former
members of that beloved Sunday-school
and parish in various parts Of the coun-
try, who have precious memories Of the
old Warren Street and Shawmut Ave-
nue. "hives," and wherever they are,
they are found true to the ancient lin
cage, and are faithful and devoted help
ers in cur church work. One of these
workers writes The UNIvERsALIsT of
the tender and blessed memories asso-
ciated with that Sunday school, and
pays beautiful testimony to the influ-
ence which surrounded her young life
in that school, to which she is so largely
indebted; influences which in turn have
proved source of blessing to many
others. We print below the letter of
Mrs. H. M. Vreeland, of Englewood,
sister of Rev. L. L. Briggs, former
pastor of Shawmut church With such
testimony as this, surely Shawmut may
we'll be proud of her children, and count
them, like the Roman matron, as so
many jewels in her crown. May peace,
prosperity and happiness attend this old
church, and make it as faithful and de-
voted in the next fifty years, as it has
amply proved in the past half century.
And may other churches learn from
her example the blessedness of faithful
and consecrated work in the great
Masters cause